Holman Christian Standard Bible | New International Version |
1Then Job answered: | 1Then Job replied: |
2Yes, I know what you've said is true, but how can a person be justified before God? | 2"Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? |
3If one wanted to take Him to court, he could not answer God once in a thousand times. | 3Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand. |
4God is wise and all-powerful. Who has opposed Him and come out unharmed? | 4His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? |
5He removes mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in His anger. | 5He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger. |
6He shakes the earth from its place so that its pillars tremble. | 6He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble. |
7He commands the sun not to shine and seals off the stars. | 7He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars. |
8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. | 8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. |
9He makes the stars: the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky. | 9He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. |
10He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. | 10He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. |
11If He passes by me, I wouldn't see Him; if He goes right by, I wouldn't recognize Him. | 11When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him. |
12If He snatches something, who can stop Him? Who can ask Him, "What are You doing?" | 12If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?' |
13God does not hold back His anger; Rahab's assistants cringe in fear beneath Him! | 13God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet. |
14How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him? | 14"How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him? |
15Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy. | 15Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. |
16If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would pay attention to what I said. | 16Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing. |
17He batters me with a whirlwind and multiplies my wounds without cause. | 17He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason. |
18He doesn't let me catch my breath but soaks me with bitter experiences. | 18He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery. |
19If it is a matter of strength, look, He is the Mighty One! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him? | 19If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him? |
20Even if I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, my mouth would declare me guilty. | 20Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty. |
21Though I am blameless, I no longer care about myself; I renounce my life. | 21"Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life. |
22It is all the same. Therefore I say, "He destroys both the blameless and the wicked." | 22It is all the same; that is why I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.' |
23When disaster brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent. | 23When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent. |
24The earth is handed over to the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it isn't He, then who is it? | 24When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it? |
25My days fly by faster than a runner; they flee without seeing any good. | 25"My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy. |
26They sweep by like boats made of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey. | 26They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey. |
27If I said, "I will forget my complaint, change my expression, and smile," | 27If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,' |
28I would still live in terror of all my pains. I know You will not acquit me. | 28I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent. |
29Since I will be found guilty, why should I labor in vain? | 29Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain? |
30If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye, | 30Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder, |
31then You dip me in a pit of mud, and my own clothes despise me! | 31you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me. |
32For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court. | 32"He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. |
33There is no one to judge between us, to lay his hand on both of us. | 33If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, |
34Let Him take His rod away from me so His terror will no longer frighten me. | 34someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. |
35Then I would speak and not fear Him. But that is not the case; I am on my own. | 35Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot. |
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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